I have decided to
build a reproduction of the military issue 1911 pistol as
produced by Colt until Serial Number 3000.This pistol has several very unique parts.The most notable part that was changed at SN#3188 was
the magazine catch and magazine catch lock.The original magazine catch lock had a concave head
instead of a screw slot.The removal of the magazine catch was quite difficult
to do.The sear
spring had no turned down end on the left hand tine.The change to the turned down end on the sear spring
was made at some where around #1000.The mainspring housing pin had convex ends on it
until about #6499 instead of one convex end and one concave
end.The thumb
safety lock was also different and changed at about #6000.The recoil spring plug did not have a tab pressed
into it until about #6500.There may be more slight differences and I will
continue to research them with the reference books that I
have.The only
incorrect parts that I will have to offer with the pistol
will be the magazines.The exposed base plate magazines look like they are
going to be just too difficult to do so I will do the Type 3
magazines.There will be two magazines with each pistol.One magazine will have the lanyard loop and the other
will not. The bases will be pinned on.The slide, frame, mainspring housing, and grip safety will be
buffed correctly as possible and the bluing will be Carbona
Blue.The small
parts will be fire blued to the iridescent blue color as per
the pistols up to #2400.

I would
appreciate it if any of you can point out any other major
parts of the pistol that were different in the under #3000
serial number range that I may have overlooked.Please understand that there are so many tiny
variations found from gun to gun that no two of these early
pistols were perfectly alike.These pistols were hand fitted by many different fitters so
there were always tiny differences from gun to gun.So, I will do my best to produce as close of a
reproduction as possible and still keep the price under the
UNOBTANIUM category.

Speaking of
price and the do-ability of this project, the price that I
have now based on my projections is $4000 per pistol.I will start this project only when I receive 50
deposits of $2000.The
cut off date for receiving the first 50 deposits so I can
launch this project will be May 30th, 2010. If
I have received the required 50 paid deposits by that time
all deposits become non refundable and the project will move
forward. I have
to start the project at that time to be even remotely able
to deliver the pistols in 2011.If I do not receive the needed 50 paid deposits by
that time I will have to put the project on hold and I will
return all deposits in full that I have received. If
for some reason the price that I have now increases,
everyone that has paid a deposit will be contacted and given
a refund of their deposit if they so desire. I would really like to be able to build this 1911 reproduction
to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the 1911 but I
understand that these are trying times for many people due
to the state of the economy and the unknowns of job security
so this type of project may be badly timed.

Please
keep checking for new updates.I would appreciate it if anyone has a pre #3000
pistol that they would be willing to let me examine.The more pistols that I check the more accurate I can
be.I also
would appreciate it if anyone has an original two piece box
that the pistol was shipped in so that I can duplicate the
markings that were on the box on my two piece craft paper
covered boxes.